One of the Hardest Days of the Year

One of the hardest days of the year for me is without a doubt is Mother's Day. Seeing so many families with babies of all ages really hits me hard in the heart. I'm sure my husband could say the same for Father's Day as well. It's hard to not constantly think about how long you have been praying and begging for a child, and yet still do not have one, when there are nothing but smiling happy families around us all day. Of course I feel happy for those women out there who do have kids and have the honor of being called Mom, especially for those women who struggled with infertility for as long if not longer than us. Even though I'm happy for them, it still doesn't make it any easier or distract me from the fact that God still hasn't answered our prayers with a yes or no just yet. If anything, for a single day it makes my heart hurt twice as intense for 24 hours.

Something that definitely helps though is celebrating not only our Moms, but my Nana and cousins as well. We love doing a huge meal and celebration for them thanking them for all they have done and still do to support us when we need it. My husband and I have been especially grateful for them during this long and painful infertility journey. Each one of them has also had major struggles regarding kids as well, whether it be infertility or something else. Celebrating them and making sure that they know we appreciate and admire their strength is incredibly important to us, because they have been an amazing example of what it means to not give up. And that means the world to my husband and I.

Whenever some one asks me how to get through Mother's Day without completely losing it, I tell them to do just that. Find a female in your life who is a Mother and celebrate them on Mother's Day, do something incredible for them to let them know just how much you appreciate them. That will make the difference between being incredibly heartbroken on Mother's Day or spending the day being tear free. I also try to spend part of the day lifting up my sisters in the infertility community to remind them that they are not alone, that there are so many of us out there too struggling just like they are. To let them know that they are loved and that even though they may not feel like it, on Mother's Day especially, they have an incredible source of strength from God that will continue to help carry them through their infertility journey.

For those of you who have not struggled or have just ended your infertility journey, I encourage you to try and take a moment out of your Mother's Day to lift up those out there who are still struggling with infertility. To let them know they are not alone and to encourage them in some way. Even if it's just letting that person know that you are still praying for them, it will still mean the world to them.